The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth (oil on canvas, 1914), by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe (1850–1936)

The First Thanksgiving

The First Thanksgiving is a painting from 1914 that depicts the gathering of the colonialists and the Wampanoag Native American tribe in 1621 as they celebrated the bounty from their first harvest. The painting has a few historical inaccuracies, but the interpretation is something that has become a symbol for the Thanksgiving holiday.

A thought that has stood out to me this year is how it’s important to be thankful for all we have, but it’s also equally important to help others have a reason to be thankful as well. My father is the perfect example of this philosophy. All my life I have seen him help others, whether it is donating money, food, or time–he has such a Christlike attitude of helping those in need. His example of selflessness is one I’d like to emulate in life.